North Hertfordshire

North Hertfordshire's population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 130,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of North Hertfordshire increased by 8.7%, from almost 117,000 to 127,000.

The addition of just over 10,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, North Hertfordshire was home to, on average, 2.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older North Hertfordshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of North Hertfordshire increased by two years, from 38 to 40 years.

This growing rural area had a slightly higher average age than Eastof England and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 16% of people in North Hertfordshire are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and North Hertfordshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in North Hertfordshire

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in North Hertfordshire, but at a slower rate than across Eastof England.

In North Hertfordshire, the proportion of single people increased from 27% in 2001 to 30% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 27% to 31%.

Across Eastof England, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of married people in North Hertfordshire fell from 55% to 51%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10% to 11%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in North Hertfordshire

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 33% said they had no religion. An increase from 20% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in North Hertfordshire.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in North Hertfordshire that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 82,000 in 2001 to about 72,000 in 2011 (from 70% to 57%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 8,700 to about 9,400. Both of these figures represented about 7.4% of the total population at the time of the 2001 and 2011 censuses.

Just over 2,400 people (1.9%) said they were Sikh, up from about 2,300 in 2001 (1.9%).

The population without a religion in North Hertfordshire increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and North Hertfordshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in North Hertfordshire

The percentage of North Hertfordshire residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.3% to 2.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.2%, while the percentage of North Hertfordshire residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91% to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in North Hertfordshire

In 2011, 89% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 93% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in North Hertfordshire.

The percentage decreased at a similar rate to the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%), but at a slower rate than the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in North Hertfordshire from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 4,500 in 2001 to just over 6,800 in 2011 (from 3.9% to 5.4%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 1,700 to about 3,400 (from 1.4% to 2.7%).

Just under 2,500 people (1.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 1,500 in 2001 (2.0%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in North Hertfordshire decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and North Hertfordshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in North Hertfordshire, but at a slower rate than in Luton (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with North Hertfordshire).

In North Hertfordshire, the proportion of private renting increased from 8.0% in 2001 to 13% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Luton increased from 12% to 23%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in North Hertfordshire fell from 22% to 19%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 68% to 66%.

Private renting in North Hertfordshire increased by 5.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in North Hertfordshire, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in North Hertfordshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in North Hertfordshire decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in North Hertfordshire, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of North Hertfordshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.7% to 3.9% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. The percentage of North Hertfordshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in North Hertfordshire decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in North Hertfordshire, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of North Hertfordshire residents that were unemployed increased from 2.1% to 3.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 58%, while the percentage of North Hertfordshire residents that were self-employed increased from 9.6% to 11%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in North Hertfordshire increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in North Hertfordshire, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in North Hertfordshire, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.9% to 9.0% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (37%) households had a married couple, compared with 40% in 2001. The percentage of households in North Hertfordshire, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.9% to 11%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in North Hertfordshire with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.6% to 9.2% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 30%, while the percentage of households in North Hertfordshire without children remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 9.3% in 2001 to 9.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of North Hertfordshire residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.5% to 1.8% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.8%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.8% in 2001 to 2.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in North Hertfordshire remained close to 1.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and North Hertfordshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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